The emirs were the politico military elite of the mamluk sultanate since the mid-13 century. They were supposed to protect Islam against the infidel conquerors. The pluralist institutional structure of the mamluk sultanate incited them to fight over the honors and the resources of the kingdom, while the economic crisis context at the turn of the 14 -15 century stirred conflicts further. The overthrow of the Qalāwūnid dynasty and Sultan Barqūq’s accession in 1382 was a turning point, from a social, rather than from an ethnic perspective. Our work consists in the analysis of this elite social organization, its evolutions and consequences for military affairs. The new sovereign strengthened the sultanic authority but had to confront the opposition of emirs’ households that questioned his power. By means expanding patronage and integrating most of the military elite in his clientage, Barqūq managed to impose his authority. But it did not survive his death despite his successful hereditary succession and his mamluks’ monopoly over the kingdom’s offices. The emir’s society that had merged in the sultan’s clientage fragmented itself with antagonist households and factions. His son’s efforts to restore the sovereign household shifted the conflicts to Syria. After years of civil war, Sultan Faraǧ’s policy proved to be in vain. The rebels defeated him and overthrew his dynasty. Between concentration and fragmentation, political violence became radicalized.